Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) submitted its Annual Report for 2019-20 that sheds light on GAIL’s ambitions and accomplishments in the renewable energy sector.

According to GAIL, its total renewable energy portfolio consists of 118 MW of wind power capacity and 12.3 MW of solar power capacity, totaling nearly 130 MW.

The report focused on its renewable energy endeavors and plans in the segment.

BioFuel

GAIL has decided to venture into the Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) business by setting up CBG production projects.

GAIL said that it had invited expressions of interest (EoI) from various CBG producers for the market tie-up of its retail outlets and joint ventures. GAIL also claims to be at an advanced stage of a tie-up with Ranchi Municipal Corporation for the supply of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and associated infrastructure for setting up the CBG project in Ranchi.

The company already has the city gas distribution license from Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board for the Ranchi district. It has also established its eastern regional office in Ranchi, which will help with integrated management of CBG project operations and marketing.

Solar Installations

The company has taken several initiatives for solar expansion to date.

As reported previously, GAIL is implementing a 1.8 MW captive solar energy PV project at Vijaipur unit in Madhya Pradesh.  The project cost was estimated to be ₹ 83.6 Million (~$11 million).

It also placed a work order to harness this potential of ~3.3 MW for which work execution will be taken up in the current year, across GAIL installations on a pan-India basis.

GAIL also installed a 5 MW solar power project at Jaisalmer that was registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as a Clean Development Mechanism project.

As a part of its community development initiative, GAIL is supporting the installation of solar home lights in and around the Pata work center in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh. The project is being pursued in association with Uttar Pradesh Small Industries Corporation Ltd (UPSICL). The estimated project expenditure is ₹5.8 million (~$78,824).

GAIL installed solar power projects at 11 health facilities at Barpeta in Assam along with solar street lights, high mast lights, and solar power projects in remote villages of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.

GAIL is further exploring the opportunity of acquiring stakes in renewable energy assets of existing players and also looking towards participating in solar park tenders as a solar power producer.

Wind Installations

GAIL owns two wind energy farms in Kutch, Gujarat, with a total installed capacity of 19.2 MW. The renewable power generated in these wind farms is first utilized in GAIL’s installations situated in Gujarat’s Gandhar, Vaghodia, Hazira, Samakhiali, and Kandla, and the remaining power is sold to the grid.

EV

Focused investments were made in start-ups operating in the electric vehicles (EV) value chain to participate in this high growth area. GAIL said it had signed investment agreements with nine start-ups with a commitment of ₹224 million (~$2.9 million). So far, 24 start-ups are supported with a total commitment of ₹457 million (~$6.2 million), and of this, ₹350 million (~$4.7 million) has been disbursed.

Mercom had earlier reported that GAIL sought the approval of its shareholders to amend the charter of the company so that it can start investing in solar power projects, various start-ups, and EV charging infrastructure across the country.